07/05/2008 - Phoenix, AZ (Baseball Betting) - Cha Seung Baek allowed just two hits over six shutout innings, as the San Diego Padres dispatched the Arizona Diamondbacks, 5-1, in the opener of a three-game set.
Baek (2-3) carried a no-hitter into the sixth while striking out seven and walking one for the Padres, who won for just the second time in their last 12 games. Kevin Kouzmanoff went 2-for-5 with a run batted in, while Adrian Gonzalez picked up his 69th RBI of the season.
Chad Tracy drove in the only run for the Diamondbacks, who have lost three of their last four. Dan Haren (8-5) held the Padres to two runs on seven hits in seven innings -- fanning seven while walking just one -- but took the loss.
Haren and Baek matched each other through five innings, but San Diego finally pushed a pair of runs across in the sixth. Jody Gerut led off with a single, then headed to third when Edgar Gonzalez singled and advanced to second on the throw. Gerut came in to score on Brian Giles' groundout, and Adrian Gonzalez knocked in his brother with a sacrifice fly.
After a first inning walk, Baek retired 15 straight before Stephen Drew finally picked up Arizona's first hit, lining a double to the gap in right- center with two outs in the sixth. Justin Upton followed with a single to left, but Chase Headley fired home to nail Drew at the plate and keep the D- Backs off the board.
With Mike Adams on in relief of Baek, Arizona's offense finally came to life in the seventh. Orlando Hudson led off with a double, and after he moved to third on a fly ball, he came in to score on Tracy's single to left. An error by Headley allowed Tracy to end up on second, but Heath Bell came out of the bullpen and preserved the one-run edge.
Kouzmanoff's RBI single in the eighth extended the lead to 3-1, and the Padres tacked on a pair of insurance runs in the ninth. Leo Rosales started the inning with walks to Nick Hundley and pinch-hitter Tony Clark, then Gerut singled to load the bases. Edgar Gonzalez plated a run with a sac fly, and Paul McAnulty added a run-scoring single.
Bryan Corey worked a perfect home ninth to finish off the win.
Game Notes
Before the game, the D-Backs made several roster moves to shake up their bench, recalling infielders Emilio Bonifacio and Alex Romero from Triple-A Tucson, optioning pitcher Connor Robertson to Tucson and designating outfielder Jeff Salazar for assignment...D-Backs pitcher Micah Owings recorded the final two outs in the ninth in his first relief appearance of the season. Owings pitched in relief twice in 2007...Hundley made his big league debut for the Padres and picked up his first career hit.
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Academy Award Betting Odds for Best Picture Offer Great Value
If there is any category that is not an obvious win for any one nominee in this year's Academy Awards, it would be for Best Picture. Sure the Departed is a 5/7 favorite, but that's hardly anything when we look at Helen Mirren and her "out-of-reach" 1 to 40 odds (which means you would win a whopping $1 for every $40 bet).
For value, take a look at MySportsbook.com Oscars betting odds on my personal favorite, The Queen - a remarkable 12 to 1 long shot. The film hasn't won any pre-awards for Best Picture (compared to The Departed and Little Miss Sunshine), but there is a tremendous following and it is a strong enough film to warrant a surprise win.
TV Guide advises Oscar watchers should be cautioned not to discount the drama "Babel" with its strong social themes about overcoming communication gaps among people of different cultures.
"While 'Babel' lost several guild awards to 'Sunshine' and 'Departed,' it still enjoys loyal support, and historically Oscar voters favor dramas with social messages over comedies like 'Sunshine' and violent crime movies like 'Departed'."
"It hasn't done well in the guilds, which means there isn't much industry support," said Tom O'Neil of awards site TheEnvelope.com, "But several critics are expecting it to win, and that gets my attention." Babel had 7 to 2 odds at press time.
Who is to say independently produced Little Miss Sunshine won't be this year's Crash. Last year, Crash won for Best Motion Picture, shocking those who bet on gay cowboy flick, Brokeback Mountain, as the favorite to win.
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